06.26.10

Baylor PF Ekpe Udoh was a surprise selection of the Golden State Warriors at no. 6 in Thursday’s NBA Draft, particularly as he was projected to be picked much later in the evening. ESPN’s Chad Ford gave the Warriors a D- for the draft, calling the 23 year-old Udoh “a classic candidate to disappoint.”

If you’re wondering what possessed Golden State to squander the 6th pick overall on a guy who bears great similarity to two players already on the Warriors roster, Brandon Wright and Anthony Randolph, perhaps the following video clip, forwarded by Josh Rosen, sheds some light.

Some have speculated the Warriors never saw the footage of Udoh attempting to post up on New Orleans head coach Monty Williams, but I think the answer is something far scarier. I suspect GM Larry Riley did see the clip, but misidentified the participants and thought he was drafting the guy who was playing such capable D.